Post-Growth Entrepreneurship

Description

Alternative economic theories have gained ground in terms of recognition and intellectual value, especially given the context of the climate crisis. This course integrates and discusses alternative forms of economic organization, such as Post Growth and Degrowth economics. Furthermore, the course investigates what these systems of thought imply for the practical organization of business, and introduces the concept of Post Growth Entrepreneurship (PGE). After completing this course, students will be able to critically compare alternative economic theories to traditional economics, and discuss the implications for entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship education, startup ecosystems, and investment/finances. Students will also apply practical entrepreneurship skills to experiment, create, and design post-growth businesses and/or integrate post-growth principles into existing businesses. In building on research-based theoretical knowledge obtained throughout the course, students will learn to analyze existing entrepreneurship and foster their ability to develop and assess actual ideas following the spirit of Post Growth economics. Lectures will be combined with hands-on practice assignments so that students better understand current developments and challenges in the field of Post Growth from a practical point of view. Objectives: The aim of this course is to gain insight and critically examine alternative forms of economic theories (e.g. Post Growth, Degrowth, Donut) and their practical implications for entrepreneurship. Upon completion of this course, students will: have knowledge of the nature and limitations of current economic growth models and the problematic nature of financial extraction. This knowledge will help to distinguish similarities and differences between post-growth and conventional forms of entrepreneurship; have gained academic knowledge of the central concepts that are used in Post Growth Entrepreneurship, both theoretically and methodologically. This knowledge will provide the ability to design practical solutions regarding entrepreneurial initiatives directed towards applying Post Growth principles; have practiced with creating and documenting post-growth business ideas. This will involve developing, managing, and assessing actual entrepreneurial activities and allow students to grasp the “Post Growth entrepreneurial mindset” in terms of the creation of non-extractive and/or nonprofit businesses.